“Help me!” the Divine Child cried out, his face overcome with panic, struggling and flailing within the green bronze cauldron.

From the void beyond, Ye Fan reached down with an enormous hand, trying to snatch him away. But all of this was far too sudden — he was already one step too late. And moreover, the Supreme Beings below made their move. The Ten Thousand Dragons Bell soared skyward, a great purple dragon baring its fangs and brandishing its claws, biting toward his wrist. Another flash of the Phoenix Wing Gilded Trident shone with crimson aurora, also hacking downward — mighty and domineering over all under heaven.

Amid the clanging sounds, Ye Fan’s great hand was blocked. In just that one instant, all had already become settled — nothing could obstruct it any further. The green bronze cauldron blazed with brilliant radiance, the little fatty vanished, absorbed into the cauldron wall.

“Divine Child!” Ye Fan cried out — but he could only sigh at empty air. The little fatty and the cauldron had fused into one, undergoing a strange transformation.

Hum!

The green bronze cauldron trembled. The immortal radiance cascading down from it was like a hanging waterfall of silver rivers, radiant and magnificent. Within the cauldron sat a silhouette — solemn and majestic in bearing. When its eyes opened and closed, brilliant light shot in all directions.

That was the divine spirit concealed within the Immortal Ascension Cauldron — now its soul was complete.

Ye Fan fell silent, saying nothing for a long time. In truth, he had long since sensed it — he simply had never received confirmation. The Divine Child was the divine spirit given life and form by the green bronze cauldron.

“Truly remarkable — to have broken free, to have become an independent life form!”

“I moved toward transformation into a weapon, while it sought to become a true person!” The Phoenix Wing Gilded Trident murmured with a trace of bitterness and helplessness.

The Divine Child was the divine spirit of the Immortal Ascension Cauldron. When the cauldron had shattered long ago, he had used supreme immortal arts to break free and worked to evolve toward becoming a true and independent life form. But the price he paid was tremendous — nearly all of his past cultivation and abilities were lost, and he even suffered from amnesia.

Now, with the Immortal Ascension Cauldron reforged, he had been summoned back. All that had been lost was recondensed, and the Divine Child was naturally restored to his original state, fused back as the cauldron’s core divine law.

“Heh heh… ha ha ha! What a gift of heaven — the Immortal Ascension Cauldron is re-forged this day, reappearing in the world of mortals! Is this not a sign that we are destined to smash our way into the immortal realm?” the Beast God laughed heartily, though his eyes were ice-cold.

“Indeed. Long ago, the Sovereign Emperor used this cauldron to fix heaven and earth in place, channeling his supreme divine power to pierce through the immortal path’s barrier — seeking to use this to ascend to immortality. Unfortunately, he fell short at the last. Today, we have come to complete his dream!” The White Tiger Daoist man also smiled — though there was something chilling in it.

Whatever the case, the Sovereign Emperor was ultimately dead. Even with the contingencies he had left behind, a true resurrection was impossible. Yet his Immortal Ascension Cauldron had been reborn, reappearing in the mortal world — for the six Supreme Beings, this was the best news they could have received.

“Kill!”

They roared together, charging forward toward the immortal path as one, channeling their combined divine power, raising the green bronze cauldron and pushing it to the very forefront — to carve open the path to immortality.

This place instantly erupted into a massive collapse. The rivers of stars in the cosmos broke apart, as they madly devoured vital essence — the great star systems dimmed, nearly drained dry.

Boom!

Upon the golden corridor of light, another great stele floated into view. Carved upon it were Emperor-characters — legible only to ancient Great Emperors and ancient supreme beings of their caliber. Others could never comprehend it, no matter how they tried.

These might also be called immortal Dao laws — without attaining the corresponding level of cultivation, one could never understand them.

“In one age, two or three may ascend to immortality!”

The phrase was short — yet it was as though a colossal stone had been dropped into the heart of every Supreme Being present. In an instant, every one of them grew wary and guarded against the others.

Though they continued to advance, the atmosphere had changed in an instant.

“Whatever the case — press forward first, fight our way in, and settle things at the ultimate end of the road!”

“Correct — these inscriptions mean nothing!”

Imperial Dao laws surged and erupted. This place seethed. Having endured the previous great tribulation, they were all especially cautious. With their full power, they drove the Immortal Ascension Cauldron forward in a fierce charge.

Before long, a majestic immortal pass appeared ahead. Blurred silhouettes stood guard within it — possessing battle power at the level of a Great Emperor. Someone looked down upon them from above, surveying all ancient heavens in supreme disdain.

“So powerful — is this truly the authentic immortal pass this time?!”

A great battle broke out here. As in the previous time — cruel and savage beyond measure, forcing ancient supreme beings and Great Emperors alike to fight for their lives, pressing ever forward. And it was even more intense than before.

The cosmos descended into chaos. All the great star worlds changed sharply and rapidly, vital essence diminishing at a swift pace — converging en masse toward the Immortal Ascension Star, swallowed by the Supreme Beings, fueling their assault on the immortal path.

Everyone trembled with trepidation, sensing that a great catastrophe was about to descend!

Rise and flourish — the lowest cultivators suffer. Fall and decline — the lowest cultivators suffer. No matter what upheaval occurred, to lower-ranking cultivators it was always a catastrophe. The lofty ambitions and visions of those at the top always brought great turmoil crashing down upon those at the bottom.

Ye Fan watched them fight their way into the immortal path but did not follow. Becoming an immortal was his deepest wish. But there was also a very harsh reality: those among them harbored intense animosity toward him — as the supreme being of the current age, with abundant blood aura, he was feared and guarded against by several of them.

Moreover, Ye Fan had not yet completed his mission. There was a knot in his heart — he had to seek revenge for his sworn brother Ji Zi, for the White-Robed Divine King who had treated him with the kindness of a father, and for Gai Jiuyou.

He had been watching the Northern Dipper’s Undying Mountain all along. The Stone Emperor had not appeared — had not emerged even now. Presumably, the Stone Emperor also had his misgivings.

Or perhaps the Stone Emperor was waiting for an opportunity — waiting for the battle on the immortal path to reach a certain point before entering? But this might draw the combined suppression of those six Supreme Beings. After all, they controlled the Immortal Ascension Cauldron, and had already paid a great price — they would never tolerate such a person profiting at their expense.

“The time has come!”

Ye Fan rose, crossed the shattered river of stars, and trod upon a great corridor of immortal light that stretched across the cosmos, connecting all the way to the Northern Dipper. He followed this road and arrived there swiftly.

Along the way, he passed through many star systems. Powerful clans of many kinds sensed him and were all seized with terror. Immortal ascension was at hand — yet the human race’s Holy Body, Ye Fan, rather than going to face it, was heading for the Northern Dipper. What was he trying to do?

Divine light blazed in ten thousand beams. People came to understand his purpose. The great divine road reached the Eastern Desolation, and he descended upon the Undying Mountain!

“He intends to wage war against the forbidden zone at this very moment — is he seeking justice for his old companions?”

The Undying Mountain — every peak was a bone-chilling black. Some were like sword blades soaring into the clouds; others like savage bulls lying upon the earth. Mist and miasma swirled, and an overwhelming grand aura pervaded everything.

One could see stone men who had lost an arm, going about gathering medicinal herbs. One could see stone ravens missing a claw, soaring through the sky. These were all sacred creatures — strange and bizarre in appearance.

“You have finally come!” From deep within the stone mountains, a low, rumbling roar was heard.

“I have come!” Ye Fan called back. The meaning was different — he fixed his gaze upon the enormous black mountain range before him, his jet-black hair flowing without wind, his pupils blazing with a resplendent and awe-inspiring light.

He walked forward, step by step. This forbidden zone had once been soaked in rivers of blood. The Void Great Emperor in his lifetime had slain one or two ancient supreme beings of the Undying Mountain — shaking all under heaven.

In that era, the Void Great Emperor had faced an extremely difficult situation, having come here with the resolve to die — for coiling within this place were several ancient Supreme Beings, beyond any human power to resist.

It was precisely in that stretch of time that the Void Great Emperor established the supreme dignity of the human race — inviolable, even if he stood alone. He shook all the heavens, fighting his entire life.

Now it was different. In Ye Fan’s era, the Supreme Beings had grown aged and feeble, and the ancient supreme beings within the mountain had withered down to the fewest they had ever been. When he entered, his state of mind was completely unlike what had come before.

“Even the Void Emperor came, yet never managed to pacify the Undying Mountain. In the end, at the moment of his passing, the injuries he had accumulated across a lifetime of battles tore through his flesh. And now you have come — do you also wish to die?” A great roar rang out from within the mountain.

“The forefather Great Emperor fought throughout all under heaven, wearing down the fighting spirit within the forbidden zones to nearly nothing. How many people among the Supreme Beings here are still capable of battle? In this age, I thank them — they have made it possible for me to enter the Undying Mountain as though walking on level ground!” Ye Fan said, utterly self-assured.

Those within the mountain fell silent — but seething with fury. Ye Fan was showing contempt — presuming the Undying Mountain was a shadow of its former self, even thinking he could simply stroll in and take a walk here?

“The Void Emperor fought with his life, the Beginningless Great Emperor came here to walk his dog — and today I shall utterly pacify you!” Ye Fan roared. These were the words that held his lifetime’s aspiration.

“You dare!” Great roars rang out from within the mountain. All the black peaks rumbled and thundered in response — like a wrathful Thunder God.

“What would I not dare? Stone Emperor — get out here!” Ye Fan called out, the Cauldron of All Things Mother Qi hovering above his head, treading upon the golden road of light, advancing into the depths of the Undying Mountain.

Here, a range of towering peaks rose in a great encircling formation, surrounding this place. No one knew what lay within — it had become the world’s greatest secret.

Today, Ye Fan had come. He would advance in force and tear away the Undying Mountain’s last veil of mystery.

The tallest of these black peaks was wreathed in swirling mist on all sides. Long ago, a single headless rider was enough to frighten Ye Fan and his companions into fleeing rapidly with the aid of a Great Emperor formation. Now, as the years had passed, he had come relying on himself alone — to engage in the final ultimate battle. The feeling was one that stirred the soul with deep emotion.

It was a pity about the people of that earlier time. Those years had passed, and could never be reclaimed.

Boom!

Ye Fan kicked and shattered a mountain with a single blow, sending it crumbling — shards of stone flying in all directions, shaking the entire expanse of the Eastern Desolation.

When had anyone ever dared to do this — so simply and brutally, directly seeking to flatten the Undying Mountain, to come and kill the Supreme Beings and master within?

This matter swiftly reverberated across the cosmos. Even the great affairs of the Immortal Ascension Star could not overshadow what was happening here. Was a forbidden zone about to be destroyed again? Ye Fan’s divine might would resound through all ages.

“You cannot forget it — is it revenge you seek for the Ji Family’s people, and for those of the Jiang Family? Their blood was fine — it was a pity I never got to drink it. They simply died in battle.” Ahead, a great demonic silhouette towered — facing the mountain entrance.

This was the deepest part of the Undying Mountain — exceeding all human imagination. It was nothing like a terrifying demonic wasteland, but rather a paradise apart from the world: pure and natural.

A peach orchard, with fallen petals drifting in a riot of color. A few thatched cottages, simple and unadorned.

An old tortoise moved slowly by, ambling toward the back of the thatched cottage, making to slip away — it was that ten-thousand-year divine medicine: the Black Tortoise.

A decrepit old man leaning against the wall — very aged — yet in this moment moved with lightning speed, pressing down with one hand to catch the Black Tortoise before it could flee, then tucked it into his robe.

Within the Undying Mountain, there remained two Supreme Beings. One was the Stone Emperor — tall, formidable, and imposing, like a demon god standing firm at the front, holding a black square-bladed halberd in hand, radiating murderous intent.

The other was that old man — eyes bleary, movements slow. He rose to his feet at a leisurely pace and said, “You two fight. I am leaving. I have little life remaining and have no desire to be drawn into this turbulence any further. I only wish to leave a way out for my children and grandchildren.”

He actually intended to withdraw. And the Stone Emperor showed no expression whatsoever — not a single word.

Ye Fan narrowed his eyes. His Celestial Eye emitted strand upon strand of brilliant light, discerning the truth: the old man was undergoing a process of dissipation. His divine soul was extinguishing. Even if given divine medicines, even if given all the living beings in the universe to devour, there was no way to reverse it.

This man had lived far too long. There was no longer any method in the world capable of halting his decline and death.

One could perhaps say this was already a dead man — at most he had only a few years left, or perhaps only a few days. He would inevitably dissolve into the Dao and become dust, leaving nothing behind.

Ye Fan did not stop him. A man on the verge of death held no significance, and moreover the other party possessed no supreme battle power any longer. He could be given the chance to choose his own burial ground.

But the Stone Emperor — he could not be allowed to go free!